UNM Interim Provost Chaouki Abdallah promised to re-structure the Provost’s office and save the University thousands of dollars, but it looks as though that plan will cost the University more money.
Abdallah planned to replace Vice Provost Wynn Goering with three part-time associate provosts, saving nearly $70,000, but Goering had already signed a contact to renew his $192,000 position, the Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday.
Abdallah decided to proceed with his plan, adding three new administrators and $120,000 in expenses last week.
“I made my decision basically saying, ‘Look, I don’t need this person (Goering), another provost’ … before I found out that indeed this person is getting paid,” Abdallah told the Journal.
The Provost’s Office is now home to five vice-level positions instead of the three it had last year.
Abdallah asked Schmidly for help, but University spokeswoman Susan McKinsey told the Journal Schmidly responded by moving Goering to oversee branch campuses while keeping his title and salary.
Abdallah said he would deal with the expense this year, but wouldn’t let it continue in following years.
Goering was unavailable for comment.
